Seebox

The idea:

A self- paced educational tool teaching electronics principles, problem-solving and abstract thinking to learners and technical workers. How it works:

The solution consists of electronic hardware, Windows and Android apps, educational content in the form of videos, experiments, and math modules, as well as a cloudbased learner-management system.

Learners watch simple animated videos to learn about the ideas behind electronics or electricity. They will then use that knowledge to progress through a game. Each level contains practical experiments where Seebox checks the outcome of an experiment and, based on what the learner has achieved, they can proceed to the next level. The aim is for the student to gain real practical understanding, not just theoretical knowledge. The user interface works like familiar smartphone apps. Importantly, Seebox tracks the progress and abilities of the learner, and because it does the teaching and evaluation automatically, it does not require a knowledgeable teacher to be present at all. Who is it for:

Schools and colleges for technical workplace-skills development. At school level, the system solves the problem of finding technical teachers, which is a huge challenge even for elite schools, and more so for far- off rural schools.

Seebox also solves the problem of costly instruments required for practical lab work. For corporate skills development, Seebox makes training and upskilling of technical workers more accessible, affordable and scalable.

Seebox can also be employed to identify young people with potential, so companies can invest in training the right candidates for their future business needs.

The system is currently in use at NWU for technical teacher training, the National Library will roll 300 out to 20 libraries across the country by 2019. Seebox is now also engaging with the Abu Dhabi department of education for a possible trial in the UAE’S school system.